William Barcroft Junior School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is a good school. The headteacher and deputy headteacher provide clear direction and a strong sense of aspiration and purpose in this good and improving school; they have been successful in communicating that vision to the whole staff group.

They have the full and effective support of a well-informed governing body. The school works well with parents to encourage full participation in their children's learning. Pupils of all abilities make good progress throughout the school from starting points that are often low and usually reach average standards or better in reading, writing and mathematics.

Disabled pupils and those who have special educational needs... achieve well because : assessment of their needs is accurate and they receive well-judged support to ensure that the work they are given is set at the right level. The quality of teaching is good. Some of it is outstanding.

Teachers hold high expectations and mark pupils' work in a way that gives them clear guidance for how they can move forward in their learning. Teaching assistants contribute strongly to the good progress made by all groups of pupils. They are effective in class and authoritative when leading intervention groups that provide a boost for pupils who need extra help.

All groups of pupils behave well and feel safe. Pupils value their time in school and feel encouraged and supported to do their best. The school promotes pupils' health and personal development well.

Pupils are given every encouragement to strive to do their best in sports and artistic pursuits. It is not yet an outstanding school because : Teachers' questioning does not always check pupils' understanding fully or ensure that they produce the most thoughtful answers. Pupils sometimes struggle when reading more difficult texts.

The most able pupils are not always given work which is hard enough in all parts of lessons. Middle leaders do not yet make a strong enough contribution to standards for the whole school rather than single subjects.

Information about this school

William Barcroft Junior School is larger than the average-sized primary school.

The proportion of pupils supported through school action is higher than average. Those supported at school action plus or with a statement of special educational needs is much higher than average. The proportion of pupils supported by the pupil premium is very high.

(The pupil premium is additional funding for those pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals and those children that are looked after by the local authority.) Almost all pupils are from White British families. The school meets the current government floor standards, which set minimum expectations for the achievement of pupils in school in English and mathematics.